FaultScore

Worst years for a Subaru Impreza

Owners have filed 3,451 complaints about the Subaru Impreza with NHTSA across model years 1990 to 2026. More of them are about the airbags than anything else.

Avoid

2017 Subaru Impreza

162 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly lights.

Cleanest on record

1999 Subaru Impreza

27 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Subaru Impreza year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2026 1 0 0 Wheels
2025 C 10 3 0 6,250 Transmission & Drivetrain
2024 C 53 3 5 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
2023 6 0 0 Tires
2022 B 15 0 2 Transmission & Drivetrain
2021 B 19 1 0 Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
2020 C 100 3 3 7,000 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
2019 D 224 6 1 12,000 Lights
2018 D 181 13 1 16,000 Lights
2017 F 162 15 5 11,182 Lights
2016 D 108 14 0 28,288 Other & Unspecified
2015 C 99 6 0 40,000 Electrical System
2014 F 157 24 0 34,000 Airbags
2013 D 344 23 10 65,500 Airbags
2012 F 337 19 6 45,000 Airbags
2011 D 75 6 5 32,193 Airbags
2010 B 60 3 1 59,500 Engine & Cooling
2009 C 149 6 3 64,765 Transmission & Drivetrain
2008 D 249 11 6 57,500 Transmission & Drivetrain
2007 C 84 6 2 46,496 Airbags
2006 C 68 5 0 60,000 Airbags
2005 D 95 17 1 72,000 Fuel & Propulsion
2004 D 113 9 4 60,000 Fuel & Propulsion
2003 C 64 9 1 69,000 Fuel & Propulsion
2002 D 339 11 3 67,013 Fuel & Propulsion
2001 C 13 6 0 42,000 Brakes
2000 C 54 8 3 64,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
1999 A 27 2 0 67,750 Suspension
1998 B 55 2 0 67,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
1997 C 38 8 1 Airbags
1996 C 25 6 1 Airbags
1995 C 69 14 2 141,125 Airbags
1994 8 1 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
1993 C 48 9 0 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
1990 2 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain

What breaks on a Subaru Impreza

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Airbags 510 14.8%

Worst in 2012

Engine & Cooling 362 10.5%

Worst in 2013

Worst in 2019

Worst in 2008

Worst in 2002

Brakes 267 7.7%

Worst in 2002

Worst in 2013

Worst in 2018

Lights 206 6.0%

Worst in 2018

Suspension 161 4.7%

Worst in 2002

Body & Structure 131 3.8%

Worst in 2008

Worst in 2013

Steering 80 2.3%

Worst in 2013

Wheels 57 1.7%

Worst in 2012

Exactly what failed on a Subaru Impreza

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Body 96 20.4%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 73 15.5%
Frontal 63 13.4%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings 54 11.5%
Windshield 47 10.0%
Engine 38 8.1%
Occupant Classification 32 6.8%
Clutch Assembly 26 5.5%
Manual Transmission 24 5.1%
Rear 18 3.8%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Subaru Impreza, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jan 1995 peak 41 Aug 2026

Subaru Impreza problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Subaru Impreza

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.